Method and system to process television program summary

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method and system for displaying video streams, including receiving video data from a plurality of video stream by a frame controller in communication with a television display including a first picture and a second picture, and also receiving a television program summary list. The television program summary list includes television program data corresponding to the received video streams, and displaying the television program summary list in the second picture, and allowing the selection of a program from the television program summary list by a consumer, and displaying the selected video stream in the first picture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to media, and more particularly, to a method and system to tailor displaying on a television set based on a television program summary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is commonplace today for cable television and satellite television networks to carry several hundred channels. Typically, even a subscriber to basic services gets over 50 channels. It is not uncommon for a subscriber to have over 100 channels available with a subscription. Advances in Internet video and television make available thousands more channels and videos for consumer entertainment. When a consumer wants to spend an hour watching television, they may have, at their choice, thousands and thousands of television programs available during the hour. Choosing a television program or channel to watch may then become a non-trivial and painful task, defeating the purpose of watching television as an entertaining event.

Many Internet videos and television channels are closely related to television programs shown on regular television channels, yet consumers cannot view a television program and switch to related Internet videos easily on their television set.

For example, in one scenario, Lucy has a television set connected to a cable television network, and an Internet television set-top box allowing her to watch televised video on the Internet. Lucy wants to watch cooking programs, hoping to find a special dish to make for a weekend party. Lucy scans all the cable channels plus at least a hundred Internet television channels before she finds a channel she likes.

In another exemplary scenario, Jack is watching live televised Olympics events on television. Jack learns that there are at least 100 broadcast and Internet television channels showing Olympic events. These hundred channels publish program schedules of several possible events. Due to the unpredictable timing of an event, the channels do not publish a firm program schedule. The program schedules suggest consumers to check the channels for the actual events covered. After watching a 100 m freestyle swimming heat, Jack wants to watch a bicycle racing event. Jack flips through the hundred channels to find an Internet television channel televising a bicycle race.

Thus, there is a need to tailor display of a television set based on a television program summary and updates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a television system and method including a frame controller for receiving video data from a video stream. The frame controller is further in communication with a television display. The television display includes a first picture and a second picture, and the video stream is displayed in the first picture. The frame controller further receives a television program summary list and displays it in the second picture. The television program summary list includes television program data for at least one television program.

In one aspect of the invention, the television program data includes a program title, a channel reference, a schedule, and a preview.

In another aspect of the invention, the frame controller allows a consumer to select a television program from the television program summary list.

In one aspect of the invention, the frame controller selects a television program from the television program summary list and displays the selected television program in the first picture.

In one aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to an image and sound signal from a multi-channel operator.

In another aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to an image and sound signal from a multi-service operator.

In another aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to one of an online Internet television portal, a satellite television network, a cable television network, or a broadcast television network.

In another aspect of the invention, the television program data further comprises consumer comments regarding at least one television program.

In another aspect of the invention, the television program summary list includes television program data for a plurality of television programs having a common theme.

In another aspect of the invention, the frame controller further receives a television program summary list update including updated television program data.

In another aspect of the invention, the television program summary list is updated with the updated television program data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television set tuned to a television programming summary channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program summary, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating television program summary processing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process for receiving a television programming summary update, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The term “video data” referred to in the descriptions of various embodiments of the invention herein described is intended to generally describe electronic audio and video signals containing or incorporating video for display on a television or other video display device. This term is used in the broadest sense as known in the electronic arts, and may include analog and/or digital signals. Likewise, the term “video stream” is used in a non-limiting fashion and generally refers to the collection of video data, together with any carrier signals, data headers or other electronic information, which singularly or taken together allow the described embodiments to operate. For example, a digital video stream from a given video source might include multiple packets of compressed video data, each packet or group thereof having one or more packet headers. Typically, one or more of the headers includes information relating to the video data, such as the compression algorithm used, the aspect ratio, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary television set 100 tuned to a television programming summary channel. In an embodiment of the invention, television set 100 is an electronic device that receives image and sound signals from a plurality of television channels, including a broadcast channel 161 and a television program summary (“TPS”) channel 165. Broadcast channel 161 relates to image and sound signal source 191. In one embodiment, signal source 191 is from a broadcast television network, a cable television network, a satellite television network, an online Internet television portal, or any other multi-service or multi-channel operator, while TPS channel 165 relates to image and sound signal source 195, which may be from a web portal or a web site. In various embodiments signal source 195 may be from the Internet, a home network, an enterprise network, or a public network, such as a community network, a WiFi hotspot, a service network of a merchant such as a coffee shop or a restaurant, or other signal source, without limitation.

Also in an embodiment, television set 100 includes picture 121 and picture 125, which are controlled by a frame controller 150, which displays broadcast channel 161 onto picture 121, and Internet channel 165 onto picture 125. The frame controller 150 displays picture 121 and picture 125 simultaneously.

In one embodiment, the frame controller 150 is included in television set 100. In another embodiment, the frame controller 150 connects to television set 100 through an interface. The interface may be an RF interface, a HDMI interface, an S-video interface, a component interface, a composite interface, a network interface, or a wireless network interface such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) network, or other suitable interface, without limitation.

In various embodiments of the invention, the frame controller 150 connects to a broadcast television channel input 190, such as an antenna, cable television network, satellite television network, IPTV. The broadcast television channel input 190 includes a signal source 191. The frame controller 150 also connects to a data network 193, which may include a home network, an Ethernet network, a WiFi network, a DSL network, an Intranet network, a hotspot network, a public data network, a cellular data network, or a private data network. Data network 193 includes signal source 195.

In exemplary operation, the frame controller 150 receives a television program summary (“TPS”) list 180 from TPS channel 165. The TPS list includes television program data, i.e., information about or concerning the listed television programs. TPS channel 165 may be served by a network computer 120. Frame controller 150 connects to the network computer 120 through a data network 193. In various embodiments, the network computer 120 is a media server, a media center, a web server, a content delivery platform server, or a video server, without limitation.

In an embodiment, frame controller 150 connects to the network computer 120 over a communication session 145, which may be included in TPS channel 165. Communication session 145 may be based on IP or Web technologies. In one scenario wherein communication session 145 is a HTTP session, frame controller 150 sends a HTTP request to the network computer 120, and receives a Web page including TPS list 180, such as an HTML page.

In one embodiment, the frame controller 150 displays TPS list 180 onto picture 125 and further selects broadcast channel 161 based on TPS list 180, and displays broadcast channel 161 onto picture 121.

At a later time, frame controller 150 may receive a TPS list update 182 from TPS channel 165. For example, frame controller 150 sends a HTTP request to network computer 120 and receives a HTML web page including TPS list update 182. TPS list update 182 is an update of TPS list 180, and the frame controller 150 modifies TPS list 180 based on TPS list update 182. Frame controller 150 then displays the modified TPS list 180 onto picture 125. In a further example, frame controller 150 might select broadcast channel 162, different from broadcast channel 161, based on modified TPS list 180. Frame controller 150 then displays broadcast channel 162 onto picture 121.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary TPS. TPS list 180 includes TPS 171, which further includes information related to a television program 175 from broadcast channel 161, program title 210, channel reference 211, schedule 214, and, optionally, a preview 216. Program title 210 is a title of television program 175. Examples of program titles 210 includes a name, such as “CSI: Miami”, “NFL Super Bowl XLII”, “ER”, or “Batman Returns”.

Channel reference 211 references to broadcast channel 161. for example, channel reference 211 may include a URL format such as tv://OTA/channel/34 indicating broadcast channel 161 being off-the-air channel number 34, or tv://cable/channel/7 indicating cable channel number 7. Other examples include sub-channels, such as tv://channel/7.4 indicating sub-channel 4 of channel 7. In another example, channel reference 211 may include a name such as “espn” indicating broadcast channel 161 having a channel name “espn”, or a number such as “38” indicating broadcast channel 161 having a channel number “38”.

Schedule 214 references a time/date when television program 175 is to be shown on broadcast channel 161. For example, schedule 214 includes a date and starting time. In another example, schedule 214 includes an ending time, or duration of television program 175. In another example, television program 175 is a television series, and schedule 214 includes a plurality of times. In yet another example, schedule 214 includes a daily, weekly or monthly schedule for television program 175.

Preview 216 includes image and sound signals. For example, preview 216 may include a video file such as a Moving Pictures Expert Group v4.0 (MPEG-4) file, an Audio Video Interleave (AVI) file, a Flash Video (FLV) file, or a Quicktime MOV file. In one embodiment, preview 216 includes a video stream such as an MPEG-2 stream, MPEG-1 stream, or H.264/MPEG-4 AVC stream. In another embodiment, preview 216 includes an Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) metafile.

In various embodiments, TPS 171 may include additional information, such as television program rating, user review, content classification, casts, or a score of a sport event, individually or in combination. Additional information may also include a monetary amount or token amount for viewing the television program.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary processing of a TPS. In operation, frame controller 150 receives TPS 171 from TPS channel 165, and displays TPS 171 onto picture 125. For example, frame controller 150 receives image and sound signals of preview 216 and displays the signals onto picture 125. In another example, frame controller 150 displays schedule 214 onto picture 125. Additionally, frame controller 150 may display program title 210 and channel reference 211 onto picture 125, and perhaps the additional information of TPS 171 as well.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list 180 includes a second TPS 172, which may also be displayed by the frame controller 150.

In an embodiment of the invention, frame controller 150 determines broadcast channel 161 for picture 121, based on TPS list 180. For example, frame controller 150 selects TPS 171, and processes channel reference 211 to determine displaying broadcast channel 161.

Alternatively, frame controller 150 connects to user 110, using an input interface module such as a pointing device, a remote control, an electronic programming guide, or a button. Frame controller 150 then displays TPS 171 as a user selectable object in picture 125, and user 110 selects TPS 171 from picture 125. Frame controller 150 selects TPS 171, based on selection of user 110, to determine displaying broadcast channel 161.

In one embodiment, frame controller 150 includes a clock 153. Frame controller 150 obtains current time 157 from clock 153. Frame controller 150 compares current time 157 with schedule 214 of TPS 171 and determines current time 157 is within schedule 214. Frame controller 150 selects TPS 171.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list 180 includes TPS 172. TPS 171 follows TPS 172 in TPS list 180. TPS 172 relates to television program 176 from broadcast channel 162. Frame controller 150 displays television program 176 from broadcast channel 162. In one embodiment, frame controller 150 tracks broadcast channel 162 and determines when television program 176 ends. Frame controller 150 selects TPS 171 to determine broadcast channel 161 for picture 121. In operation, frame controller 150 determines that current time 157 exceeds or equals to the end time of the schedule of TPS 172, and then selects TPS 171 for display.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process to receive a television programming summary update. In operation, after frame controller 150 receives TPS 180 from TPS channel 165, frame controller 150 further receives TPS list update 182 from TPS channel 165. Frame controller 150 may receive a TPS list update 182 regularly after a pre-determined period of time, or periodically. In one example, frame controller 150 receives a TPS list update 182 when TPS list update 182 is made available on TPS channel 165. In another, frame controller 150 sends an update request to network computer 120, and receives TPS list update 182 based on the update request.

Once the TPS list update 182 is received, the frame controller 150 modifies TPS list 180 with the TPS list update 182. In one embodiment, frame controller 150 replaces TPS list 180 with TPS list update 182. In another embodiment, TPS list update 182 includes TPS 178, and the frame controller 150 adds TPS 178 into TPS list 180. In one embodiment, TPS 178 has the same program title 210 as TPS 171, and frame controller 150 replaces TPS 171 by TPS 178. In another embodiment, TPS list update 182 includes a removal instruction in TPS 178, and frame controller 150 removes TPS 171 from TPS list 180. In one embodiment, TPS 178 includes additional information relating television program 175, and frame controller 150 combines the additional information in TPS 178 into TPS 171.

After modifying the TPS list 180, the frame controller 150 displays the modified TPS list 180 onto picture 125. In one embodiment, frame controller 150 updates picture 121 by selecting broadcast channel 162 based on the modified TPS list 180, according to the process in FIG. 3. In another embodiment, broadcast channel 162 is different from broadcast channel 161, and frame controller 150 displays broadcast channel 162 onto picture 121.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS channel 165 provides a television program guide for broadcast channel 161, wherein TPS list 180 is a daily, weekly or monthly program guide. TPS list 180 includes information relating to a plurality of television programs to be shown on broadcast channel 161. TPS channel 165 updates TPS list 180 regularly, for example hourly, daily, weekly or monthly. In one embodiment, TPS channel 165 updates TPS list 180 whenever there is a change in television program scheduling.

In one embodiment, TPS channel 165 provides a program guide for a televised event, such as the Olympics, an NFL sport program for 2008, or televised movies for the coming week.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list 180 comprises a plurality of programs TPS related to a common theme. For example, the theme may be related to an ethnic group, such as Japanese, French, or Spanish. In another example, the theme may be related to an age group, such as kids, teens, or adults. In another example, the theme may be related to a gender, like female or male. In another example, the theme may be related to an activity, such as cooking or home repair. In yet another example, the theme may be related to current events, such as the weather or news. In a last example, preview 216 of TPS 171 may include a summary of weather conditions, and broadcast channel 161 may be a weather channel.

In an embodiment of the invention, additional information of TPS 171 includes user comment or criticism of television program 175, and frame controller 150 displays the user comment/criticism on picture 125. In a further embodiment, after viewing television program 175, the consumer 110 may provide comment/criticism about television program 175 to frame controller 150, which then sends the consumer comment/criticism to network computer 120.

Additional information of TPS 171 may also include demographic and/or popularity information for television program 175. Frame controller 150 displays the demographic information/popularity information on picture 125, and consumer 110 selects TPS 171 based on the displayed information. In an embodiment, after consumer 110 selects TPS 171, frame controller 150 sends the selection of TPS 171 to network computer 120.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A television system, comprising: a frame controller coupled to an Internet television channel input and a network computer, the Internet television channel input comprising an Internet television channel, the frame controller configured to: receive video data from a first video stream of a live first television program from the Internet television channel; receive from the network computer a schedule of the live first television program comprising a duration for the live first television program; display, on a display coupled to the frame controller, the video data from the received first video stream from the Internet television channel; track the display of the video data from the received first video stream; and during the tracking of the display of the video data from the received first video stream: receive an updated duration for the live first television program from the network computer, wherein the updated duration is shorter than the duration; upon receiving the updated duration, determine a quantity of the video data from the received first video stream that has been displayed exceeds the updated duration; in response to determining that the quantity of the video data from the received first video stream that has been displayed exceeds the updated duration, select a second television program; and display video data from a second video stream of the second television program.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the updated duration is received from the network computer over a data network comprising Internet.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the live first television program comprises one or more of a sporting event, a news event, or a live event.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein in the selecting of the second television program, the frame controller is further configured to: select the second television program from a plurality of television programs based on a user review or a user rating of the second television program.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein in the display of the live first television program, the frame controller is further configured to: receive a user review or a user rating of the live first television program from a data network; and display the received user review or the received user rating on the display.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame controller is further configured to receive a television program list comprising the schedule of the live first television program and information for the second television program.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the information for the second television program comprises a user comment or a user rating of the second television program.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the frame controller is further configured to receive an updated television program list comprising one or more of the following: an update of the schedule of the live first television program; and the information of the second television program.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein in tracking the progress of the display of the video data from the received first video stream, the frame controller is further configured to: display the duration and the updated duration on the display.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking of the display of the video data from the received first video stream comprises: tracking the display of the video data from the received first video stream to determine when the display of the live first television program ends.
 11. A method for displaying a television program, comprising: (a) receiving video data from a first video stream of a live first television program from an Internet television channel by a frame controller, the frame controller coupled to an Internet television channel input and a network computer, the Internet television channel input comprising the Internet television channel; (b) receiving, from the network computer, a schedule of the live first television program comprising a duration for the live first television program; (c) displaying, on a display coupled to the frame controller, the video data from the received first video stream from the Internet television channel; (d) tracking the display of the video data from the received first video stream; and (e) during the tracking of the display of the video data from the received first video stream, (e1) receiving an updated duration for the live first television program from the network computer, wherein the updated duration is shorter than the duration; (e2) upon receiving the updated duration, determining a quantity of the video data from the received first video stream that has been displayed exceeds the updated duration; (e3) in response to determining that the quantity of the video data from the received first video stream that has been displayed exceeds the updated duration, selecting a second television program; and (e4) displaying video data from a second video stream of the second television program.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving (e1) comprises: (e1i) receiving the updated duration for the live first television program from the network computer over a data network comprising Internet.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the live first television program comprises one or more of a live sporting event or a live news event.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the selecting (e3) further comprises: (e3i) selecting the second television program from a plurality of television programs based on a user review or a user rating of the second television program.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying (c) further comprises: (c1) receiving a user review or a user rating of the live first television program from a data network; and (c2) displaying the received user review or the received user rating on the display.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: (f) receiving a television program list comprising the schedule of the live first television program and information for the second television program.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information for the second television program comprises a user comment or a user rating of the second television program.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: (f) receiving an updated television program list comprising one or more of the following: an update of the schedule of the live first television program; and the information of the second television program.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the tracking (d) further comprises: (d1) displaying the duration and the updated duration on the display.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the tracking (d) comprises: (d1) tracking the display of the video data from the received first video stream to determine when the display of the live first television program ends. 